New Bern mayor taking two months off

By Eddie Fitzgerald, New Bern Sun Journal

Published: Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 08:39 PM.

“It never stops,” he said. “I’m getting calls — we are all getting calls over this. I’m not rushing to judgment. This is my job to answer calls about constituents’ concerns. But it is also my job to serve other components of government. …He has obviously got some issues. It is not any of my business and I’m not getting into them. I’m just trying to provide leadership for this city. Right now, I don’t think we have got the leadership this city deserves.

“I would like for him to resign and let the mayor pro tem finish out the term.”

After the news conference Thursday, Outlaw said the decision by Bettis and other aldermen not willing to hold a special meeting to discuss how this might affect the city left a question mark for him.

“I think this leaves the city in limbo,” Outlaw said. “It leaves us all with a great big, capital question mark.”

Outlaw said when the mayor pro tem takes over the mayor’s role, it is usually for a short period.

“After about 60 days, the board might want to look at alternatives,” he said.

Outlaw said, because of the “severity of the situation,” he thinks the mayor should have been present at the news conference.

NEW BERN — New Bern Mayor Lee Bettis is taking a two-month leave of absence from his city post to tend to family matters, a spokesman announced at a brief news conference Thursday in New Bern.

Reading from a prepared statement, Susan Namowicz, business manager of Bettis’ law office and a personal assistant to the Bettis family, announced the mayor’s decision in front of his law office.

Bettis did not attend the news conference. His assistant said he was in court.

The news conference came a day after Carteret County sheriff’s deputies investigated an alleged domestic altercation involving Bettis and his wife Nicole Bettis at a rental home near Beaufort where they are staying.

Also this week, Bettis was charged with driving while impaired and two other traffic violations after he was stopped by police in Havelock.

Bill McClure, who is Nicole Bettis’ father, also spoke at Thursday’s news conference. Also reading from a prepared text, McClure praised both his daughter and son-in-law, saying they were good parents. He asked for privacy and for prayers.

Neither Namowicz nor McClure took questions from reporters.

Bettis was elected mayor of New Bern in 2009. He has previously announced he would not seek re-election.

Alderman Sabrina Bengel, who as mayor pro tem will take over during Bettis’ absence, said she talked with Bettis Wednesday and asked him if he was going to resign, but he told her he did nothing wrong and would continue his role as mayor.

Alderman Dana Outlaw called for Bettis’ resignation Wednesday and wanted to have a special meeting of the Board of Alderman, but none of the other aldermen seconded his proposal, Bengel said.

“This is his (Bettis’) personal issue and he needs to address his own personal issues,” she said. “I will lead the meetings in his absence — he is still mayor of New Bern. That is just the role of mayor pro tem, to oversee the meeting when he is not there.”

Bengel said she has received telephone calls from the public after all the publicity surrounding Bettis this week, but they were respectful that it was a personal issue. The publicity has not affected city staff, she said.

“The work of the city is going on, and it is good work,” Bengel said. “(City Manager Mike) Epperson is at the helm, and it is business as usual.”

Before Thursday’s news conference, Outlaw said all week his telephone rang nonstop over the publicity surrounding the mayor this week.

“It never stops,” he said. “I’m getting calls — we are all getting calls over this. I’m not rushing to judgment. This is my job to answer calls about constituents’ concerns. But it is also my job to serve other components of government. …He has obviously got some issues. It is not any of my business and I’m not getting into them. I’m just trying to provide leadership for this city. Right now, I don’t think we have got the leadership this city deserves.

“I would like for him to resign and let the mayor pro tem finish out the term.”

After the news conference Thursday, Outlaw said the decision by Bettis and other aldermen not willing to hold a special meeting to discuss how this might affect the city left a question mark for him.

“I think this leaves the city in limbo,” Outlaw said. “It leaves us all with a great big, capital question mark.”

Outlaw said when the mayor pro tem takes over the mayor’s role, it is usually for a short period.

“After about 60 days, the board might want to look at alternatives,” he said.

Outlaw said, because of the “severity of the situation,” he thinks the mayor should have been present at the news conference.

“It appears Mayor Bettis is being the victim here, not the citizens who need a governing council,” Outlaw said. “As usual I’m the lone wolf out here. I will continue to respect the other board members and we will continue as usual.”